Bosvigo

Devoted gardeners Wendy and Michael Perry had a clear mission when they set to work in the ramshackle two acres of ground at their home, Bosvigo House on the outskirts of Truro. They both yearned for a garden with summer in mind - in a county where summer gardens are put firmly in the shade by Cornwall's much loved spring displays. And they dreamt of a place filled with rare and unusual plants, a balance between the formal and informal and, because of the shape and contours of the grounds, a series of distinct gardens-in-a-garden. After years of often backbreaking work and a sensible step-by-step approach as they tackled one area after another, they have succeeded triumphantly with more than a dozen separate but linked parts. Today, summer colour, from muted hues to brilliant splashes, is the glory of Bosvigo, alongside carefully woven spring and autumn compositions to give interest from early spring to late autumn. Winter is the time to clear and prepare for the seasons ahead. The Perrys make a perfect team. Wendy is the plant expert, colourist and designer of displays, Michael the hard landscape man. Both have been keen gardeners since childhood. The couple bought Bosvigo House - the name means the House of Vigo and there has been a dwelling on the site since the twelfth century or before - 33 years ago. They loved the pretty Georgian house, despite an awkward Victorian addition which did little for the charm of the place, which they removed 22 years ago.